49ers’ Anquan Boldin advises Colin Kaepernick to be wary of advice

Some observers insist the 49ers’ Colin Kaepernick needs to become a more dedicated pocket passer. Others are adamant that his strength is his athleticism and that he should run more often.

Anquan Boldin’s advice to his quarterback?

“I just think he has to just block out everything else around him,” Boldin said Wednesday on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “Stop listening to what people have to say about you, stop listening to what people want to see you do and just be yourself. I think sometimes when you try to go off of suggestions of other people and try to please other people, you forget who you are and what got you there.”

Kaepernick spent the past two and a half months at EXOS training facility in Phoenix honing his pocket skills with, among other instructors, ex-Cardinals and Rams quarterback Kurt Warner, who excelled from the pocket during his career. Those close to him have said the 49ers quarterback made noticeable changes and improvements in the time he was there.

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Boldin, however, noted that Kaepernick was good enough to play in – and nearly win – a Super Bowl in his first year as a starter. What has he told Kaepernick?

“Trust your skills, trust the athletic ability that you have and just go for it,” he said.

After such a tumultuous offseason, many see the 49ers taking a step backward in 2015 and some have predicted a last-place finish in the competitive NFC West. Boldin, however, doesn’t foresee doom and gloom.

He helped sell former Ravens teammate Torrey Smith on joining the 49ers in free agency, convincing Smith that the 49ers are a winning organization. He also offered support for new coach Jim Tomsula, who was embattled as soon as he took over the job from successful Jim Harbaugh.

“I’ve always thought he was very energetic, I thought he was very detailed in what he did and how he coached the defensive line,” Boldin said. “He communicated well with the defensive line. I tell you, everybody that played for him, they busted their butts for him. And he went to bat for his players. So that’s something you’re excited about (regarding) a head coach.”

About This Blog

Matt Barrows was born in Blacksburg, Va., and attended the University of Virginia. He graduated in 1995, went to Northwestern for a journalism degree a year later, and got his first job at a South Carolina daily in 1997. He joined The Sacramento Bee as a Metro reporter in 1999 and started covering the San Francisco 49ers in 2003. His favorite player of all time is Darrell Green. Reach Barrows at mbarrows@sacbee.com.
Twitter: @mattbarrows